Apparatus for loading barges



Aug. '12 1924.

I L. LLEWELLYN APPARATUS FOR LOADING BARGES Filed April 22. 1921 dSheets-Sheet l Aug. 12 1924 L. LLEWELLY'N APPARATUS FOR LOADING BARGESwFiled April 22. 192] 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 {Ag i INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. '12, 924.

LEE LLEWHLLYN, 01 1363311550311, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PITIESEURG-HCQAL JAEHER CGIPETUHEI'SZ', 53F IEENlTEiYLVANIA, A GOEFOBl-TTION OF NAPPARATUS FOR LOADING BARGJES.

Application filed. April 22, 1921. Serial No. 463,507.

T 0 (4Z5 whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, LEE LLEWELLYN, a citizen oi? the United States,residing at Dormont, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain ne and useful Tn'iprovenients inApparatus for Loading Barges, of which the following is aSPGCllC-EttlOl].

My invention consists of an improved method and apparatus or loadingbarges, and has for its object to distribute loose material, as coal,across the width and successively throughout the length of anintermittently movable vessel. In the loading of coal or similar looseheavy n'iaterial in bull; initially upon the bottom of barges, such asare used in river tra'liic, it is desirable and necessary to place theload gradually across the bottom, and to discharge it thereon through aminimum drop, to avoid unequal and sudden strains which are apt toproduce leakage or rupture. Also, to avoid centralizing the load at oneor more points, so as to eiiect a gradual and even submergence of thehull. Heretofore, such loading has been done by shovelling or by the useof raising and lowering baskets arranged to receive unitary portions ata considerable height above the barge and to lower and discharge closeto the bottom, involving considerable loss of time in returning empty aswell as expensive and complicated apparatus.

In my invention, I provide a vertically and laterally adjustableconveyor adapted to receive the load continuously at its upper end andto deliver it from its lower end across the width of the barge,lengthwise of the barge, in connection with intermittent longitudinalshifting of the latter, and also in successively higher levels, whennecessary.

In the drawings, illustrating one preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a View in sectional side elevation of an apparatus adapted tocarry out the method;

Fig. 2 is a view of the same in end elevation;

Fig. 3 is a plan View;

Fig. 4r. is a sectional detail view showing the pivotal mounting of theupper end of the delivery conveyor.

Referring to the drawings, 2 is an open top barge of ordinaryconstruction, such as is used in river traffic, and adapted to float ina pool between piers or walls 3, 3, am

ranged to allow the barge to float between them, with slight lateralclearance.

Mounted upon piers 3 at suiiicient elevation above high water level is atipple construction A, bridging across the barge receiving space andproviding suitable supporting structure for a supply conveyor 4 of usualconstruction, of the endless con veyor type. Conveyor 4-. leads from anysuitable receiving point, as the distribution terminal of a mine, andterminates immediately above the receiving end of the adjustabledistributing conveyor 5. The delivering end of conveyor 4: and the upperreceiving terminal of conveyor 5 are so located as to coincide with thelongitudinal central line of the barge 2 in its position midway betweenthe piers 3.

The head sha'tft oi conveyor 4 is driven from any suitable prime mover,as a motor 6, to belt 7 and gear 8, of well known construction, wherebyto actuate the conveyor at the desired speed and under the control ofthe operator. The conveyor 5 is actuated in a similar way by motor 9 andgearing 1O connecting the motor with the head shaft of the conveyor, allof which gearing and the motor is mounted upon a suitable uppersupporting framework 11 forming an extension of the conveyor frameworkitself. The conveyor proper 5 is pivoted at 12 to said framework so thatits lower end carrying the other terminal shaft 13 may be raised andlowered independently of the upper portion, but is capable oi? operationby the motor and gearing at any height. The framework 11 is swiveled atthe point 14 in any suitable manner, as by a central stud or king bolt,and with turn table rollers, if desired, upon a lower stationarysupporting framework 15 extending across underneath and supported uponpiers 3 or from the superstructure, as desired.

The conveyor 4; extends underneath a suitable covering structure 16which may bridge across the entire space from one pierto the other, andfrom such structure extends across, longitudinally with the piers, andat each side of the barge space, a supporting structure 17 or anysuitable design. Said structure 17 is of sufficient length to terminateoutwardly beyond the receiving end of conveyor 5 and approximately at aposition directly above the lower or deliveryend of the conveyor, so asto provide for the location of raising, lowering a 1,5o4,9eo

and latewilly shitting mechanism therefor.

At such point extends across, from one side portion '17 to the other,the supporting framework 18 of a crane 19. Said crane is mounted onlaterally extending trackways of well known construction, and is capableof movement, under the power of its motor from one side to the other,and also of raising and lowering the delivery end oi conveyor 5. F orsuch purpose, it is provided with reversible drum mechanism 20 andsuitable gearing, and a cable 21 connected by sheave 2-2 and. itsterminal bail with the upper portion of the conveyor frame, as at 23.

By this means, the conveyor 5 ma be accurately lowered to the desiredposition with its delivering terminal at a proper height above thebottom of the barge, so as to gently deliver the load upon the bottom ofthe barge with a minimum drop. ifhe conveyor 5 may also be shiftedlaterally toward one side or the other by lateral movement of thesupporting crane, and these operations are continued, in connection withintermittent longitudinal shifting of the barge 2 throuhout the loadingoperation, as will be readily understood.

The range of lateral movement of the conveyor 5 is co-extensive with theinterior width of the barge, as indicated in Fig. 3, and theconstruction provides for the easy discharge across the full width andforwardly or backwardly throughout the entire length of the barge sothat it may be gradually loaded without any sudden strains or unequaldistribution of the load, or breakage of coal, and without any loss oftime or unnecessary movement of the loading mechanism.

The apparatus thus provides for great economy of time and with theresulting advantages noted. lt avoids the various objections present inthe old practice, and ensures against objectionable strains andresulting leakage, with accompanying avoidance of the expense ofpumping.

It will he understood that tho operat on may be carried out by various s'uu'ilically ditlerent installations, and that changes or variations maybe made in the particular apparatus above described, but all such are tobe considered as within the scope of the following claims.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In combination, a pool providing l'or flotation and movement ot areceiving res sel, a superimposed structure and means supporting itthereover. a conveyor lending onto said structure and having a deliveryterminal over the middle portion of the pool. a receiving and deliveryconveyor h ving an upper tin'utable portion located below the firstnamed conveyor and, a lower vertically and laterall adjustable portion,an extension of the superimposed structure. and means thereon forraising. lov-cering and loterally moving the last named conveyor.

2. In combination, a pool providing 'l'or flotation and movement oi areceiving vessel, suppmrting members at each side thereo providinglimiting guiding elements tor a vessel. :1 superiiuposhd structureextending across the SHQPOIClU LX members- I1 convoy-r thereonterminating above the pool, a receiving conveyor having its upperportion pivotally arranged below the delivery end of said conveyor. anextended supoi-imposed structure on the supporting members. andactuating mechanism thereon connected with the lower portion of the lastnamed ('llll veyor for imparting lateral and vertical movement thereto.

In combinalium. supporting piers pro viding a guiding pool to a vessellocated between said piers. a su 'ierimposcd strut-turn extending acrossthe piers. a conveyor thereon. a receiving conveyor pivoted below thedelivery end of said conveyor. and a lot orally movable crane havinghoisting and lowering mechanism connected with the do livery end oi saidconveyor.

In testimony whrrcot l hereunto allix my signature.

LEE lililill'l lliliYN.

'ill

